Patent Application
20060245874
The present invention relates generally to apparatus for providing a mobile anchoring support platform, which is able to be positioned easily at the most efficient angle in front of or behind the “stuck” All Terrain Vehicle and the like.
In particular, the present vehicle relates to a mobile, simple, rugged apparatus that will effectively provide a support platform for the A.T.V. winch line to hook to.
This anchor support platform is designed for a maximum strength pull (by winch) by placing it in the ground at the correct angle, then reinforced by stabilizing brackets that provide the triangle of support strength required.
Small All Terrain vehicles are becoming increasingly popular among many sports enthusiasts as well as leisure-pleasure seekers. These A.T.V.'s are used by many people to reach remote areas of the outdoors. Many of these vehicles are designed and promoted for getting in and out of rough terrain. Most enthusiasts like to test the vehicles ability to get thru the biggest and deepest mire they can locate, obviously if the A.T.V. got thru the previous mire, the enthusiast will look for an even more challenging situation. As these situations get more challenging, eventually the A.T.V. enthusiasts get themselves stuck in the most remote and awkward mire. The surroundings may provide a stable and natural support platform (tree) to hook the winch hook to, but in most cases this natural mooring tower will be to far away or at the wrong angle to effectively pull from. If the enthusiast isn't paired up with another A.T.V. operator and the like, he/she usually ends up investing a lot of time and sometimes a lot of money to rescue his A.T.V.
There is very little innovative idea's when searched, to aid in the rescue of this problem of being “stuck” in remote areas.
According to its major aspects and broadly stated, the present invention is an apparatus for providing a mobile winch-anchor support platform which enables the winch system of an incapacitated All Terrain Vehicle, to hook into something strong enough, in front or behind, to efficiently pull itself out of the mire.
When the apparatus is positioned for use, the frame assembly is fastened to the sharpened wedge-ended metal stake, which has been driven into the soft terrain. This assembly must be lowered far enough into the ground to enable the stabilizing arms in front to maximize the efficiency by being at the right angle to offset the peek torque generated by the A.T.V.'s winch line.
An important feature of the present invention is the frame assembly which links the ground inserted shaft together with the supporting stabilizer arms, along with the support platform stanchion to supply the complete standing rigging in which to connect the winch line.
Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown as an A.T.V. Winch Anchorage apparatus 7. Apparatus 7 includes a frame assembly 2 with generally angled stabilizer side supports 3, 4 made with end locks 10 and metal foot tabs 11, solid steel plate 6 welded on top of assembly 2, sharpened wedge-ended metal stake 5, which has a hole 8 designed to match up with the hole 8 in the main frame assembly 2 for which purpose is to receive and secure the winch line-hook from the All Terrain Vehicle. The stabilizer legs 3, 4 are angled at approximately 60 degrees to the front of the frame assembly 2. The strike assembly plate 6 is welded to the top of the main-frame assembly 2 to greatly strengthen the end of the anchorage apparatus 7, which eventually must be driven into the ground for effective use. These components may slide together using effective locking teeth 10 on assemblies 2,3, and 4. The sharpened wedge-ended metal stake 5 is slid upwards into the main-frame assembly 2 and secured by a bolt assembly 1 or other suitable fasteners. Extraction hole 9 is fabricated in the metal stake to be utilized when removing the sharp stake from the ground after use.
After complete assembly the apparatus is then positioned directly in front of or behind the stuck A.T.V., whichever position is most efficient. The complete anchor standing rigging 7 is then driven into the ground, with the wedge-ended metal stake 5, approximately 60 degrees to the horizontal ground level. The assembly system is driven at this angle downward until the metal foot tabs 11 situated on the bottom of the stabilizer supports 3, 4 are planted firmly on the surface of the ground for maximum support.
The operator of the stuck A.T.V. can then anchor the winch line-hook to the hole 8 of the ATV Winch Anchorage System, to commence the steady pull action.
The apparatus greatly improves the odds of the A.T.V. enthusiast's chances of getting unstuck, without outside help in remote areas of our great outdoors.
Since various modifications could be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrated only and not in a limiting sense.
